Man acquitted in Sunland Park mobile home arson that killed girl

SUNLAND PARK, New Mexico -- A man was acquitted Thursday on arson charges stemming from a 2018 fire that left an 8-year-old girl dead in Sunland Park.

A judge dismissed multiple charges resulting from the deadly mobile home fire against Juan Carlos Holguin saying there was insufficient evidence linking him to the crime.

The charges Holguin was facing had included arson with intent to commit a violent felony and child abuse resulting in death.

Holguin's arrest by Sunland Park police stemmed from the Dec. 13, 2018 fire in which Marisa Munoz, a 3rd grade student at Desert View Elementary, was killed and two other children were hospitalized with burns.

New Mexico State Fire Marshal investigators had found evidence the fire was set intentionally.